Interesting, Laurel.

We had a bad experience with our first GB Express trip but it was nothing to do with them. I'm guessing, and I might well be wrong, that a lot of people change their plans, some ending up as no-shows and possibly even without cancelling, and that is probably why they don't generally make refunds and do take advanced reservations and deposits. All my paperwork from them did state the no refunds policy though they might have changed that by the time you used them.

We made our reservation for our first r/t with GBE from home and I brought the confirmation and all the correspondence with me to SXM. The day we were to cross, we went to the place they told us to meet the boat at Simpson Bay (that would be the one before when they picked you up at the Police pier or where they do today....) We saw no sign of the boat, the captain or any office or desk. There was another boat charter company there and I asked them if they knew anything about GB Express and after reading ALL my correspondence, they told me they were actually supposed to take us on their boat. Had I anticipated any problems prior to our departure day I would have called GBE but hindsight being what it is, and coupled with the fact we had no island cell phone back then, we went with the other boat believing what they told us.

We contacted GBE on our arrival at AXA and they were more than a little upset with us because, in their mindset, we were no shows at the SXM pier - I guess it doesn't always pay to be a little early? They told us we would be charged the agreed upon full charge to our cc. And technically, they were right, more or less.

As it turns out, we were scammed by the other company and being fairly easy going people, we accepted their story along with the fact it was as much our fault for not questioning the other boat company more seriously.

Still, when I got back to CT and received my credit card bill from the trip, I sent an email to the owner, Mr. Wagner at the time, and explained the whole situation to him since I'd never spoken directly to him while on either island, and he did in fact refund the charge that was made by him for the one way passage we never took on his boat. And the thing is, he couldn't have been any nicer about it once he got the clear picture of what had happened to us.

As for the Marigot ferries being smelly, OMGoodness, they used to be horrible and I always tried to snag an outside seat if I could. I cant really say what they're like today because I prefer the ease and convenience of GBE. But as we all know, we each have to do what works for us, and I'm sure the OP will be happy with whatever they choose to do.

In all honesty, after reading about the flight over, if I were traveling with any luggage at all, I'm thinking I'd probably take that option these days, even allowing for liking Mr. Wagners fast boats and solicitous service. But wisely, the OP has managed to pack with just carry-ons so all choices are good ones in their case. Bottom line, it's nice to have options as long as you ultimately end up there, right?! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />